Centaur Exhibitions has quickly followed up the launch of its Meetings Show UK by appointing former Reed Travel Exhibitions project director Steve Knight as the new show’s event director.

Knight spent two years with VisitBritain as tourism development manager in New York before moving to RTE, where we was project director on the organiser’s AIBTM meetings industry show. Knight is originally from Wales and will join the Centaur team on 16 April.

Centaur Exhibitions MD Andrew Evans said Knight’s experience in the meetings industry made his an ideal candidate for the new Meetings Show UK. The show debuts at Olympia from 9 to 11 July 2013.

“If you look at what we’ve set out to do, it comes down for four main factors: A pure meetings play; base it on a hosted buyer proposition; overlay the experience with great learning via an education programme that’s not on the floor; and have the product driven by meetings professionals, not exhibition organisers,” Evans told EN.

“Steve is familiar with the meetings industry and that’s where he fits into our value proposition.

“He has spent time running and launching successful meetings shows and is from the meetings industry himself. He is a specialist with credibility, experience and relationships and that’s what is needed here.”

Evans denied Knight’s appointment was a direct hit at Reed and its international meetings show plans.

“The point is Steve is the right candidate for us,” he added. “There is an immense enthusiasm here following his appointment.”

Evans said Knight will sit alongside the Meeting Show’s strategic adviser Paul Kennedy MBE and sales director Katy Phelps, who has been permanently seconded from Centaur’s Business Travel Show team. Evans hoped to appoint a fourth key member to the new team as sales manager shortly.

Kennedy welcomed Knight to the team and labelled him a talented and motivated professional with a true understanding of both exhibitor and visitor needs.

“As the show grows and expands over the course of the coming months, Steve will be a driving force behind the development of key relationships,” he said.

Centaur is also working to compile an advisory board for the show, as well as a board specifically overseeing the education programme.